UC-Berkeley Hunger Strike in 10th Day

by Bill Carpenter (wcarpent [at] ccsf.edu)

Tue, May 10, 2011 9:59AM

Many of us are wary whenever our boss comes out with a plan for change. But if s/he then decides to call it anything like "Operation Excellence" -- well, in October 2009 Chancellor Robert J. Birgeneau announced his "OE" for the Berkeley campus of the University of California.

When this video was filmed, May 6, 2011, Berkeley students were in the tenth day of their hunger strike against Operation Excellence.

Nine-minute QT movie. 63MB.

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Twelve people started the hunger strike on April 26 following a larger protest criticizing the consolidation of three departments under Operational Excellence, UC Berkeley’s initiative to cut costs and streamline its bureaucracy. The administration has proposed consolidating Gender and Women’s Studies, African American Studies, and Ethnic Studies to save $500,000 in staff costs.
--Berkeleyside, article by John C. Osborn (MORE)

§Sacramento Students Present Torch

by Bill Carpenter

Tue, May 10, 2011 9:59AM

Sac State students reach out to hunger strikers
The State Hornet
Mallory Fites
May 9, 2011

Sacramento State students delivered a solidarity torch on Friday to hunger strikers at UC Berkeley.

Senior anthropology major Estevan Hernandez and senior sociology major Amanda Mooers made the hour and a half drive to deliver the torch, which was intended to encourage seven students who haven't eaten since April 27.

"We gave the strikers a solidarity torch as a symbol of our support for them, encouraging them to pass on the torch to the next campus (that's) fighting the good fight," Mooers said. MORE

§Hunger Strike: 10th Day

by Bill Carpenter

Tue, May 10, 2011 9:59AM